Great Seal Button Backmarks Help

[Bigcypresshunter]

I am assembling a list of US Army Great Seal button backmarks 1902-present.. This seems to be the most complete list available anywhere. With the help of TN members, I am occasionally adding and improving upon it. So far I have over 100 different backmarks. Anyone with a Great Seal button backmark or backmark variation not listed please post the pic and Ill add it. The thread is already so long its not necessary to add anything already pictured. Thanks.

This is how it all started:


I bought 2 bags of small Great Seal of US buttons for a buck at a flea market. Can someone help me date these backmarks? I believe they are all post 1902. I cant find anything else online.

1- Top row SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY (back ungilted)
2- SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY
3- Bottom CITY BUTTON WORKS - N.Y.
4- WATERBURY BUTTON CO.

 

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[Cherylay]

Superior Quality with more

​

This is a Great Seal Button with a common backmark of Superior Quality but what I haven’t seen is what is in the well with the shank. It was hard to photograph but it says Made in England. Any info on this? Thanks

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

Subdued U.S. Army buttons weren't on GI clothes manufactured after 1923. It appears that Waterbury still offers the button though: 80730 - Military - Waterbury Button
Waterbury Companies (plural) indicates it was made after 1941 or so, when the company changed their name (from Company, singular) to reflect their more diverse products.

Kyle, I note that yours appears to be the chinstrap button from the side of a visor cap, which I'm not sure BigCy was including -- but I don't know that he's not, so I guess this is more a question for him. Also, BigCy, are you including cuff buttons, which often have abbreviated marks, due to limited space on them?

Yes I was including abbreviated cuff buttons and I probably should add cap buttons too but there are more Great Seal button backmarks and variations than I could ever have imagined and I have not been able to update the backmark list. I still have my collection but I spend most of my time in my camper in the swamp now with bad eyes and a weak internet signal and I have no objection if anyone wants to try and make an updated list. I just haven't had the time to spend on this project. I think Rockermike was working on a book. I wonder if it was ever published?

 

[fyrffytr1]

Yes I was including abbreviated cuff buttons and I probably should add cap buttons too but there are more Great Seal button backmarks and variations than I could ever have imagined and I have not been able to update the backmark list. I still have my collection but I spend most of my time in my camper in the swamp now with bad eyes and a weak internet signal and I have no objection if anyone wants to try and make an updated list. I just haven't had the time to spend on this project. I think Rockermike was working on a book. I wonder if it was ever published?

I e-mailed him about the book but never got a reply.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

View attachment 1804249

View attachment 1804252 View attachment 1804253​

This is a Great Seal Button with a common backmark of Superior Quality but what I haven’t seen is what is in the well with the shank. It was hard to photograph but it says Made in England. Any info on this? Thanks

I see it listed but I dont know the dateline.

 

[fyrffytr1]

I recently acquired two more buttons. One is a K.G.Luke PTY.LTD. Melb. Aust. and the other is a The Cincinnati Regalia Co. The Luke button is in McGuinns book but it is listed as K. C. not K.G. and the Cincinnati button is not in the book.

 

[arche-foto]

great seal buttons in former German Southwest Africa

518/5000
Hello,

I want to present 5 buttons that have all been found in the past years in Namibia, the former colony German South West Africa.



Nos. 1-4 all related to the Herero uprising
No. 1 + 2 of bases of the German troops
No. 3 + 4 from a remote battlefield between German troops and Herero

The single button was found on the old main street east of Windhoek.

Diameter No. 1 + 3: 15,5 mm
Diameter No. 2 + 4: 22,8 mm

Who can provide more information? How do these uniform buttons come to the Herero Uprising in South West Africa

much thanks - have a nice time - so long - from arche-foto

 

[1graeman]

This past weekend I went out to a small town in southern Arizona and I found 4 buttons.I have not cleaned them up yet. The information that I have on them all except the one with no writing on it is a Scovill 1850-1865, Horstmann 1893-1935 and a C. Kenyon 1930.

 

[fyrffytr1]

This past weekend I went out to a small town in southern Arizona and I found 4 buttons.I have not cleaned them up yet. The information that I have on them all except the one with no writing on it is a Scovill 1850-1865, Horstmann 1893-1935 and a C. Kenyon 1930.
View attachment 1823118
View attachment 1823119

The first button looks civil war era. The two Great Seal buttons By Horstmann and Kenyon date from 1902 to 1910. The way to tell is by the lack of a rim around the outer edge of the button. The rim was added in 1910. I am not positive about the stud one but it may date to the same time period but no earlier than 1902.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

518/5000
Hello,

I want to present 5 buttons that have all been found in the past years in Namibia, the former colony German South West Africa.

View attachment 1817504 View attachment 1817515

Nos. 1-4 all related to the Herero uprising
No. 1 + 2 of bases of the German troops
No. 3 + 4 from a remote battlefield between German troops and Herero

The single button was found on the old main street east of Windhoek.

Diameter No. 1 + 3: 15,5 mm
Diameter No. 2 + 4: 22,8 mm

Who can provide more information? How do these uniform buttons come to the Herero Uprising in South West Africa

much thanks - have a nice time - so long - from arche-foto

When was the Herero uprising? 1904-1908?

 

[TheLittleMan]

Art metal works Inc.

Redirect Notice

I found this same button today on the woods of northern WI. If it's WWI era, then it must have come off an army coat reused for hunting back in the day. I can confirm the "The Art Metalworks, Newark N.J."

 

[etsmith]

• How about a C & C Metal C34 USA back mark?​

 

[Capncrunch]

I am assembling a list of US Army Great Seal button backmarks 1902-present.. This seems to be the most complete list available anywhere. With the help of TN members, I am occasionally adding and improving upon it. So far I have over 100 different backmarks. Anyone with a Great Seal button backmark or backmark variation not listed please post the pic and Ill add it. The thread is already so long its not necessary to add anything already pictured. Thanks.

This is how it all started:


I bought 2 bags of small Great Seal of US buttons for a buck at a flea market. Can someone help me date these backmarks? I believe they are all post 1902. I cant find anything else online.

1- Top row SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY (back ungilted)
2- SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY
3- Bottom CITY BUTTON WORKS - N.Y.
4- WATERBURY BUTTON CO.

WHERE can I see this list?
Thanks!

 

[fyrffytr1]

WHERE can I see this list?
Thanks!

As it was updated it was posted in the replies in this thread. I have found some more backmarks but haven't taken the time to post them. The latest list can be found on page 19.
If you get a copy of "American Military Button Makers; Their backmarks and Dates" by William F. McGuinn and Bruce S. Bazelon their is a list in the back of the book , but it is not complete.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Yes I was including abbreviated cuff buttons and I probably should add cap buttons too but there are more Great Seal button backmarks and variations than I could ever have imagined and I have not been able to update the backmark list. I still have my collection but I spend most of my time in my camper in the swamp now with bad eyes and a weak internet signal and I have no objection if anyone wants to try and make an updated list. I just haven't had the time to spend on this project. I think Rockermike was working on a book. I wonder if it was ever published?

BigCy, I’m currently working on a book for relic IDs and I do have a section on great seal buttons. If you’d like I can include it as an appendix in the book, with credit to you. The book is in the layout phase now and being published by American Digger in 2024. Can you send me a copy of your list?

 

[BuckleBoy]

I found this same button today on the woods of northern WI. If it's WWI era, then it must have come off an army coat reused for hunting back in the day. I can confirm the "The Art Metalworks, Newark N.J."

That one is WW1 era due to the style of rim (raised rim rather than flat) and as I recall the dates of the company narrow the range down a bit more. Company specialized in die cast toys.

 

[fyrffytr1]

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

BigCy, I’m currently working on a book for relic IDs and I do have a section on great seal buttons. If you’d like I can include it as an appendix in the book, with credit to you. The book is in the layout phase now and being published by American Digger in 2024. Can you send me a copy of your list?

I do not have a list other than what is here on this thread. I have been busy and havent had any time to work on it or update it. You dont need to give me any credit. There may be some errors as it was a work in progress.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

There are many Great Seal button backmarks and some of them are rare. I had no idea there were so many. I have a tin of Great Seal buttons back in town and some that are not on this list but I dont have time to fool with it. Too many hobbies. Keep checking eBay the rare ones show up from time to time. I see they cut my profile avatar in half and made it out of focus lol, unless its my signal. I have a very weak internet signal here.

 

[BuckleBoy]

I do not have a list other than what is here on this thread. I have been busy and havent had any time to work on it or update it. You dont need to give me any credit. There may be some errors as it was a work in progress.

Hello my friend,

I appreciate your great effort in assembling this list! I’m going to talk to my editor and see if we have a place for this in the appendices of the book, and see what time I have to continue to compile the list. Miss ya on the forum my friend!

 

[Hester]

WHERE can I see this list?
Thanks!

I don't know if this will help you, but perhaps you already received answers for your questions.

Backmark​	Estimated production​	Comments​
THE ART METAL WORKS, NEWARK, N.J.	1897 - 1905​
THE AUSTIN CO. PROVIDENCE R.I.
CITY BUTTON WORKS N.Y.	WWI​	Made by Erlanger & Liebmann
CITY BUTTON WORKS NEW YORK	1877 - 1923​
SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY [back ungilted]	WWI​	1850 - 1865 backmark
SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY	WWI​	1850 - 1865 backmark
SCOVILL MF'G CO [dot] WATERBURY [dot] [shank not soldered, weak imprint]	WWII and later​	possibly to 1970s
SCOVILL MF'G CO. * WATERBURY *	1902 - 1918​	1870s backmark?
SCOVILL M'FG CO. WATERBURY [ring of dots]	about 1902?​	1860 - 1880 backmark
SCOVILL MF'G CO. WATERBURY CT.	WWI​	1870s - ? backmark
WATERBURY BUTTON CO. *	1849 - 1965​
WATERBURY BUTTON CO. *CONN.*	pre-1965​
WATERBURY COS INC CONN	post 1965​
Great Seal Button​ https://inkspotantiques.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=10